TARARUA WRECK
FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TO-DAY
AN A.B.'S RECOLLECTIONS
[Written by T. P. Blue, for the ‘Evening Star.’] I remember seeing the ill-fated steamer on the reef near Waipapa Point, about 20 miles from Bluff, the following morning, when she went to pieces about 2 a.m., which would be about high water. No doubt, at the turn of the tide she must have been straining herself on the rocks when the sea got rough with the tide going out. I was an A.B. on the Kakanui at the time. We left Invercargill somewhere about midday, hound for Waikawa, to load timber for Dunedin, and as we were passing the Bluff we were signalled to come in, and were told that the Tararua was ashore on the Otarau Beef. Just as we were about to leave Bluff word came from Port Chalmers to say that the Hawea was leaving that port and would reach the wreck early in the morning— which she did, but too late.
We left Bluff in the afternoon, and it was dark before we reached Waipapa Point, and anchored in what is called the boat harbour. We could see the lights on the Tararua right up to about 2 o’clock in the morning, when the lights all seemed to disappear, Deck hands on the Kakanui got orders from our captain (Sundstrum) to keep on watch for two hours at a time, and I had been on watch from 10 to 12, when 1 was relieved, and instructions given to my mate that should the lights move or shift Captain Sundstrum was to be called. When no lights were to be seen about 2 a.m. our captain ordered up steam and hove up anchor and cruised about until it got a bit clear. We got near the reef, and saw no signs of the Tararua, but plenty of wreckage everywhere — cargo, luggage, mail bags, and all kinds of wreckage and liftings. We came across a dead body fully clothed, and we hauled it on board.
The morning was now clear, and we noticed a steamer well out to sea and made towards it. It turned out to be the Hawea, and while we were making for the Hawea one of the Tararua life boats came alongside, with the second officer in charge and several members of her crew. I had only been in New Zealand five months, and looking over the side I noticed one of the crew of the boat who had come out with me from the Old Country in the Dunedin. Captain A. Cameron, the superintendent of the Union Company, came off the Hawea and came on board the Kakanui and had a talk with Captain Sundstrum, and decided to take the body on the Hawea. Before they lifted the body Captain Cameron and Captain Sundstrum decided to search it, and as none of the others on board would take on the job Captain Sundstrum got me to do so. I found a pocket book in the coat pocket with a ticket showing that this passenger was to travel from Melbourne to London as soon as the Tararua would arrive in Melbourne. The name of the passenger was Martin, and he came from T'imaru, and had been a farmer in Canterbury. There were, besides the ticket, about £20 in sovereigns, two £1 notes, some loose silver, a gold albert and gold watch, and several other papers. Everything was handed over to Captain Cameron. I noticed that the watch had stopped about 2.30, and the Tararua went to pieces somewhere about 2 a.m. The passenger must have been on some of the wreckage for a time. We made for Waikawa, and, going close to the reef where the Tararua had broken up, I saw a sight I shall never forget. The sea was very calm, and all we could see was sharks’ fins. I did not remain on the Kakanui many weeks after, but gave the sea best, but did make a trip in 222 Dredge to Melbourne in 1889, and afterwards took to gold dredging for the second time. One wonders how the Tararua got so close in. Her captain certainly altered his course too soon, and had he kept on the W.S. westerly course and picked up Dog island light this accident would never have happened. Captain Garrard was a. young man. His body and many others were never found. Many bodies were washed up on the beach, and were buried in a plot of ground now called Tararua Cemetery, near where a small dredge is now working and getting gold. We got in to Waikawa and loaded up with timber for Dunedin, and a body was placed on board to be taken to Dunedin. The coffin was just some of the fittings off the wreckage of the Tararua — panels, etc. This passenger also came from Canterbury. As soon as we arrived and discharged our timber at Dunedin we loaded up dozens of coffins at Port Chalmers and left for Waikawa, but very many of the roughly-made coffins were never wanted.
The loss of life was over 130, and half the bodies were never recovered. I enclose the names of the officers and the few of the crew and passengers that were saved — in all about 20.
A curious fact about the wreckage that was floating about was that nearly all the luggage — mostly wooden boxes and chests — was either open or broken, and many of the chests had nothing in them, yet as far as one could see none of the cases and barrels of the cargo were knocked about.
My old friend, Captain Sundstrum, is now no more. He used to tell me that had we gone earlier to the wreck we could have saved the whole company, as there was no great sea running when we got into the boat harbour and anchored for the night. Had it been daylight I am sure we should have gone pretty close to the steamer. I do not think there are many alive who were at or saw the wreck.
The following persons were saved: — Crew. — Robert Lindsay, chief officer; Peter Maloney, second officer; James Burnett, A. B.; Edward Johnston, A. B.; Charles Stewart, A. B.; Torquel Nicholson, A. B.; Franz Denz, A. B.; John Weston, A. B.; Thomas Dixon, A. B.; Franz Rahel, fireman; John Maher, fireman; Antonio Miscalef, chief cook.
Passengers. — William Hill, steerage; John Chatterton, steerage; George Lawrence, steerage; Henry Deely, steerage; George Robins, steerage; Thomas Davis, steerage; John Williams, steerage; Gustave Tellien, steerage.
The following were the officers of the Tararua: — Captain, F. Garrard; chief officer, Mr Robert Lindsay; second officer, Mr Peter Maloney; carpenter, Mr J. Morrison; purser, Mr W. B. Jones; chief steward, Mr Charles Ellen; stewardess, Miss Aitken; second steward, Mr James Warren; first pantryman, William Smith; chief cook, Antonio Miscalef; fore-cabin steward, William Collins; second-cabin steward, Davidson. -Evening Star, 29/4/1936.
THE TARARUA DISASTER.
FOUR MORE BODIES RECOVERED.
SCENE OF THE WRECK.
[BY TELEGRAPH. VIA PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wyndham, Wednesday.
The body of Mr. R. B. Jones, late purser, was recovered yesterday afternoon, and was identified by the name written on his shirt and a paper found on the body. Four more bodies were washed ashore to-day, two of them being headless, most fearful objects to behold, as are indeed all the bodies now coming ashore. They are in a dreadful condition, and the police, who are compelled not only to handle them, but to examine them minutely, in the hope of identification, deserve the greatest commiseration. There are twelve constables still on the beach, amongst them being Inspector Buckley and Detective Tuohy, of Invercargill, both of whom have been untiring in their efforts to recover and identify the bodies, and who have earned the gratitude of the friends of the deceased passengers who have visited the scene of the wreck by their civility and ever readiness to render them all the assistance in their power. We believe that the Dunedin constables return to-morrow.
There is a petition going the round here for signature, having for its object the establishment of a telegraph station at Fortrose, that being the nearest township to the scene of the disaster. The nearest telegraph station at present is Wyndham, a distance of between 30 and 35 miles.
There has been no wreckage of any value cast ashore up to the time of my leaving the beach. -NZ Herald, 12/5/1881.
The wreckage which has come ashore is, as has been already stated, of an unimportant description. Very little has come in since Saturday and Sunday. Only some half-dozen passengers' boxes came to land. The most valuable portion of the cargo which came was 50 or 60 casks of limejuice. These may be worth removal, which nothing else of the cargo is. The beach at Otara - that is, directly opposite the wreck - is strewed with timber of all lengths, sizes, and descriptions. The most of it is broken and splintered to such an extent as to be valueless, but there is a large quantity of cedar amongst it; and, if this could be utilised in no other way, if some enterprising person were to get hold of a lot of it and turn it into small fancy articles, he could sell them as relics of the wreck and make a mint of money. The Government will no doubt take stops now to put a light on that part of the coast. It should have been done long since. Waipapa Point would be, perhaps, the best place for it. Slope Point extends farther seaward, but it is very low-lying. The other is a bluff, which gives it the advantage in this respect, and besides, the reef from it extends so far to sea that mariners would find a light on it the best guide. The miners at Waikawa deserve a good deal of praise for their action. They only knew of the occurrence by the material coming ashore and floating by, and it was not till Monday, when a lifebuoy was picked up with the ship's name on it, that they had any idea what vessel was wrecked. It was Tuesday ere any of them knew where the wreck had occurred. All the time they kept up a sharp look-out, and a number of them were on the beach ll Sunday and during the whole of Sunday night.
The settlers at Otara and Toi-Tois also, as has before been stated, did all in their power to help the survivors. Two or three ladies should be specially mentioned. These are Mrs Paddon, Mrs Boyer, and Mrs Stratton. On Friday Mrs Stratton supplied a quantity of food and warm clothing, which Mrs Paddon conveyed on horseback to the survivors from Fortrose at about 10 o'clock at night. The distance is about 10 miles. Mrs Paddon, too, performed the last offices for the young lady (unidentified, so far) who first came ashore, and again on Wednesday, Mrs Paddon and Mrs Boyer did a like service as regarded Miss Aitken, the stewardess. The task must have been a remarkably unpleasant one, and owing to the want of timber to make a coffin, the two ladies were detained at the station until after 9 o'clock at night ere they could fully accomplish it. There were exceptions, however, to the good conduct of the settlers, for before the police arrived several articles that came ashore of more or less value disappeared. Perhaps the most reprehensible thing was the breaking open of the passengers' boxes that came ashore. Those belonging to Dr Campbell were thus treated and the contents were not improved by being turned out on the sand. I heard that Dr Campbell's brother expressed himself strongly about the matter. A box was found at Boat Harbour, near the Toi-Tois, which was suspiciously like having been opened, emptied, and put to sea again. It was quite empty, and the cording around it seemed to have been freshly put on. The police would probably make inquiries into this.
The suggestion about sending a photographer was put into practice. When I left, Sir Henry, of Invercargill, was on the beach. He had taken excellent pictures of the four bodies first found, but I should imagine that the five got on Wednesday would be difficult to take. The features were not disfigured by bruises or anything of that kind, but the flesh had sunken in greatly; it was much discoloured, the hair hanging loose from the head — and altogether a photograph of the faces would have been repulsive. I may mention that Mr Henry was busy taking a picture of a quantity of the wreckage, in the midst of which it was intended the chief mate and the sailor Denz should take their seats. Pictures like this should sell well, which no doubt was the object.
Some uncomplimentary remarks have been published about the Invercargill "volunteers" — that is, the people who came from Invercargill to help to bring bodies ashore, &c. The remarks were probably true enough about one or two individuals, but they were too general. As a whole, the volunteers did good service. Several of them worked well; but one or two are said to have distinguished themselves by paying close attention to the station-hut fire, and there was a question whether they had ever been seen on the beach. The police who were on the scene had not an enviable duty. There was generally a bitterly cold wind blowing along the beach, and from the break of day they had to keep a good look-out, particularly about the time of high water.
Several Canterbury people who were interested in persons who had been on board the boat arrived at Otara on Wednesday night. One of them came all the way from Rangiora. Amongst them was Dr Campbell's father, who had a trying journey. He wisely stayed only a few hours at the place, and returned on Thursday. He had to leave Fortrose at 4 o'clock in the morning by coach to catch that day's train for Dunedin.
The entertaining of the whole of the visitors to the wreck fell upon Mr Brunton, the owner of Otara Station. As during the four days, from Sunday to Wednesday, 60 persons had been at the place from Dunedin, Invercargill, Christchurch, &c, whilst the police put up there, and many of the local settlers also for a short time, it will be seen that their entertainment meant something; and whilst Mr Brunton did what he could for the survivors with the utmost willingness, it may well be pardoned to him that he had some objections to do all he was asked to do as to the others. His sheep, potatoes, and grain were levied upon to a considerable extent. In connection with the number of visitors it is worthy of notice that at least one country resident rose to the occasion. This was Mr R. A. Eliott, of Wyndham, livery stable-keeper. No single person who came was detained by inability to get horse or coach, and the resources of his stable were shown by the fact that he had no less than 10 horses out at one time.
OTHER PARTICULARS.
The Union Company have received a cablegram from London asking if George Moore Frean was a passenger per the Tararua. There is no trace of his having booked. The Company will be glad if he will communicate with them.
Referring to the loss of the three clergymen who were on board the Tararua, the New Zealand Times says: — "It is not a little strange that the Rev. Mr Williams, lately removed from this city to Wanganui, and the Rev. Mr Lee, of Nelson, both delayed their departure because they preferred making the voyage in the Te Anau; and that, the Rev. R. Bavin, for a similar reason, left in the Wakatipu on her last trip to Sydney."
The Southland Times says: — "One of the bodies that came ashore on Wednesday from the wreck of the Tararua was that of Mr William Davidson, one of the stewards of the vessel. Mr Davidson was not altogether unknown here, and from an old friend in town we learn that he was the son of the late Rev. Mr Davidson, of Buxsburn, Aberdeenshire. He was well connected, his mother being a relative of the celebrated Sir Roderick Murchison. Mr Davidson's father died while he was young, and when quite a boy he took to a seafaring life, which he had followed up to this sad disaster. He had been for a considerable time in the service of the Union Company— chiefly on the coast, and had only lately been transferred from the Rotorua to the ill-fated steamer. One of his brothers met the same fate while bathing some years ago; another is supposed to be in America. Mr Davidson's widowed mother resides in the village of Aberlow, Banffshire." -Otago Witness, 14/5/1881.
THE TARARUA ACRE.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir, — It would be very acceptable to all those who had relations, or friends on board the Tararua, to ascertain whether such friends have been identified, and where the bodies have been buried. Would it not be well to publish from time to time a full list of all bodies interred in the Tararua acre, together with a list of such bodies as have been removed to other places of interment? I speak on behalf of some interested, who are uncertain where the graves of their lost relatives really are, and who naturally wish to have this sad satisfaction. Further, I would suggest, Sir, that a subscription list be started to provide a suitable monument, to be erected in the Tararua Acre, and that the names of all those buried on the spot be inscribed, as a last mark of sympathy and respect.
— I am, &c., SYMPATHISER. -Lyttelton Times, 14/5/1881.
THE TARAUA DISASTER.
In reference to a statement in the columns of a contemporary, to the effect that the body of Mr J. Scoone had been identified by a lady at Temuka from a photograph, we are desired, on behalf of Mr Scoone's friend., to say that his brother, Mr W. Scoone, proceeded immediately to the scene of the wreck and, with the assistance of Mr Inspector Buckley, identified his brother's body on the spot within a short time after it was found, and had it buried in the Tararua acre. -Press, 18/5/1881.
An Otago paper has received a poem (on cardboard) concerning the wreck of the Tararua, with an accompanying photograph of the vessel in the act of breaking up (an imaginative scene, of course). The poem is by George Scott. Our contemporary does not know who is responsible for the spelling — Mr Scott or his printers — but "Morn Zealandia, morn for thy sons," is scarcely up to the recognised standards. -Nelson Evening Mail, 8/6/1881.
George Scott's poem can be found at the Tararua Acre. It has all the qualities of a great poem - subject, pathos, emotion, scanscion, rhyme - but it is not great.
The Mataura Ensign contains the following items: — "The Waipapa lighthouse is now rapidly approaching completion. The tower is already erected, and the workmen are busily engaged in arranging and erecting the lighting apparatus. — The reproach which lay on us for a long time for neglecting the last home of those who perished in the wreck of the Tararua is now almost removed. A recent visitor to Otara says that the "Tararua Acre" is now neatly fenced, and that the graves are all properly tended and numbered, identification as to names in most oases being impossible. What is still wanted, however, is a coating of paint." -Otago Daily Times, 31/10/1883.
"TARARUA ACRE" MEMORIAL.
Dunedin, This day. A marble memorial stone has been erected in the "Tararua Acre," Otara, and also one in the cemetery at Fortrose. The entire cost has been defrayed by the children's subscriptions whichwere set on foot some time ago, in which about 30 district schools joined in aiding the efforts of those attending the Fortrose school. The total amount collected and expended upon the stone, cost of erection, cartage, and freight amounted to upwards of £40. The following inscription has been put upon each stone: — "Erected by the children of the Fortrose district school, assisted by the children of other district schools, to the memory of those who perished by the wreck of the steamship Tararua on April 29, 1881." -Daily Telegraph, 23/6/1884.
The Tararua Acre.
[By Telegrah]
[United press association.] Invercargill, This Day. A gentleman who has visited the Tararua Acre states that the graves of those drowned in that disaster present a shockingly neglected sight. A few names have been painted on pieces of board, but these are rotting away. -Evening Post, 26/11/1885.
The "Tararua Acre" has just received, under extremely melancholy circumstances, its first inmate apart from those who met their end in that fearful night of the disaster. Mrs Girdwood, whose husband, a Settler at Otara, .keeps the local post office, died on Satuday night week; and was buried on the following Wednesday as stated, Mr S. Miller officiating at the grave. Mrs Girdwood died in childbed, and, although Dr Stockwell was sent for, it was too late when he arrived. The deceased lady, who was only 25, was much respected in the district, and her husband meets with much sympathy. It may not be out of place to mention here that the Tararua cemetery is not in a very good state. -Mataura Ensign, 19/4/1887.
A Day at Waipapa (excerpt)
By Rusty Cuss
Leaving these fields of "saint seducing gold," the Irishman's head was turned towards Fortrose; but a brief halt was made at the Tararua Acre Cemetery, one of the sights of the district, though one calculated to awaken feelings scarcely in harmony with those that arise in connection with a contemplation of the possibilities of wealth. The Tararua was wrecked on Otara Reef on the morning of the 29th April, 1881, and over 100 lives were lost. Some 60 bodies were recovered, and, with the exception of those that were removed to Christchurch and of others that were buried at Fortrose, were consigned to a hastily dug trench on a slight eminence overlooking the Otara beach. There is a monument, provided by subscriptions from school children at Fortrose and Pine Bush; but this stands apart, and it is hard to think that over the graves of those who perished on that awful night, for whom few tears were shed, whose requiem was the roar of Old Ocean rolling in his majesty, and whose funeral dirge was "the grand harmonious anthem of the waves," there should only be at the head of each mound a simple wooden stake on which is burnt the number — for all are nameless — of the corpse whose resting place it indicates. What a pity there could not have been more complete identification, and that the trustees of the cemetery should be so hampered from want of funds as to be unable to beautify this melancholy God's acre by the planting of suitable trees and the erection of much needed fencing. One would think that the Union Steamship Company would refuse to allow the ground to remain in its present unsatisfactory condition; but it makes no sign, and the people of the district can scarcely be expected to bear the whole cost of providing a suitable resting place for the bodies of those who died
A double death, to drown in ken of shore,
The rest of the journey home was naturally not of the liveliest. It was not easy to cast out from my mind's eye the vision of that row of ugly stakes, each bearing its branded number, too suggestive of the convict's classification. A fearful storm of wind and driving sleet pelted in my face, and helped the attack of the miserables which had seized me. Truly glad I was to reach Mr Elliot's comfortable house, avail myself of his kindly hospitality, and, comforting the outer and inner man, to dispel the horror nightmare of that grim array of bare, branded, numbered sticks. -Mataura Ensign, 13/7/1888.
The 'Southland News' of Friday records the death on the previous Monday of Mrs B. Paddon, at the early age of 39 years, who was one of the first to go to the rescue of the passengers and crew of the Tararua, which was wrecked on Waipapa Point in 1881. Weighted with food and clothing, she rode across rough country and through the intervening creeks till she reached her destination, where she took part, with others, in doing all that was possible to ameliorate the lot of the people saved. Nor did her exertions end with care for the living. Many of the bodies washed ashore were tended by her, and prepared for burial in the Tararua Acre. The service she rendered deserved, and received, public recognition. -Bruce Herald, 20/11/1888.
FORTROSE
THE TARARUA ACRE: — The ss. Napier pays regular visits to the river, bringing in merchandise, and taking away timber and other products of the district. Captain Hansen paid a visit to the cemetery here, and not being satisfied with the state in which the graves of those who perished in the Tararua were, he raised sufficient money to have them put in decent order. The keeper of the Waipapa lighthouse for some years attended to the graves of those buried in the Tararua Acre, but, when he found that the cemetery was vested in trustees, and they had money in band, he stopped doing so. Since then; the Tararua cemetery has been looking after itself. The actions of these two men show that the sufferers by that dire calamity have not been altogether forgotten. -Otago Witness, 19/11/1891.
The Tararua Acre. — The Tararua Cemetery has got into a very disordered state. The fences are down and cattle wander in and out at their own sweet will. The Government is waiting for the names of suitable persons to form a trust and will then hand over the charge to them. Then and not till then will the Tararua Acre be kept as it should be. -Otago Witness, 8/12/1892.
A STRANGE FIND.
(Per United Press Association.)
Invercargill, May 18. Information has reached town that a coffin containing a skeleton has been found on the beach-near Waipapa Point, on which the s.s. Tararua was wrecked 17 years ago. Most of those then drowned were buried in the Tararua Acre close by, but whether the sea has encroached on the burial ground, or whether the coffin has come from some other place, is not yet known here. -Otago Daily Times, 19/5/1898.
UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS.
It has been represented to the “Otago Daily Times” that it is a mistake to conclude that the two skeletons which, enclosed in one coffin have been found at Waipapa are the remains of the victims of the wreck of the Tararua, which occurred thereon April 29, 1881. It is pointed out that no bodies were buried on the beach.at all, but all, with the exception of those interred at Fortrose, were laid to rest in the Tararua Acre, which is a long distance from the beach, and was surveyed by Mr Spence, then district surveyor in Southland, on the edge of a preemptive right held by Mr P. R. Brunton, and it is considered, owing to the distance of the graveyard from, the beach that it is not possible that the remains can be those of victims of the wreck. Furthermore, it is stated that the police, who were present under Inspector Buckley, of Invercargill, took possession of all the valuables which were found on the bodies that were washed ashore — whereas silver coins were found in the coffin discovered last week — and that, moreover, there was no case of two corpses being buried in one coffin. -Lyttelton Times, 24/5/1898.
A coffin found on the beach at Waipapa contained two skeletons, with apparently clothes and boots on. There were silver coins amounting to 12s 9d, the latest date being 1875. Part of a belt and a knife were found in the coffin, which was embedded in the sand about half-a-chain above high water mark. The remains are believed to be those of persons drowned in the wreck of the Tararua, in 1881, and were found opposite the wreck. -Auckland Star, 21/5/1898.
THE WAIPAPA MYSTERY UNRAVELLED.
Constable Bogue returned to Wyndham on Saturday evening, after making a successful investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported finding of a coffin containing the remains of two bodies on the beach near Waipapa lighthouse. It appears that the gruesome discovery was made on the previous Wednesday by Mr William Bell, assistant lighthouse-keeper at Waipapa, at the base of the sandhills, about three-quarters of a mile from the lighthouse, and half a chain above high water mark.' The recent high tides had washed away the sand off the top of the coffin, and also the decayed wood off the lid, leaving the human remains partially exposed. It was at first thought that they were the bodies of two persons drowned in the Tararua some seventeen years ago, but Constable Bogue learned through Mr John. Dobson, an old settler in that locality, that they were the bodies of two sailors who were drowned off Waipapa Point, about twenty-two years ago, by the wreck of the William Ackers, a timber-laden vessel. These bodies were not recovered from the wreck until they were much decomposed, so they were buried in their clothing, without being searched. This accounts for money being found in the pockets of the clothing. -Star, 27/5/1898.
Constable Bogue, of Wyndham, male a successful investigation into the circumstances surrounding the finding of a coffin containing the remains of two bodies on the beach near Waipapa lighthouse. He learned through Mr John Dobson, an old settler, that they were the bodies of two sailors who were drowned off Waipapa Point about 22 years ago by the wreck of the William Ackers, a timber-laden vessel. 'These bodies were not recovered from the wreck until they were much decomposed, so they were buried in their clothing, without being searched. This accounts for money being found in the pockets of the clothing — some 12s 9d. The coins were: a King George half-crown (dated 1823), 19 threepenny pieces, one shilling, one sixpence and two florins — the latest dated coin was stamped 1870. Part of a belt and a knife were also found in the coffin, which was made out of rough white pine and was falling to pieces. From the appearance presented by the teeth, the remains are supposed to be of middle-aged men; the skulls were uninjured. Constable Bogue had the remains buried in Otara Cemetery. -NZ Times, 1/6/1898.
Presumably, the reference to the "Otara Cemetery" means the Tararua Acre.
Political Intelligence (excerpt)
Mr McNab wishes the Minister for Marine to give instruction to the lighthouse keeper at Waipapa to take steps for the preservation and protection of the burial ground known aa the Tararua acre, in which rest remains of the victims of the Tararua wreck, and to set aside a sum of money to enable the lighthouse keeper to effectively carry out the work and remunerate him for the additional labour entailed. -Otago Daily Times, 30/9/1898.
Letters From Little People
Dear Dot, — I thought I should like to tell you about this place. The climate is very cold. We live close to the beach. There is a reef of rocks running off the beach, where the Tararua was wrecked. When the tide is low we can see her boiler, and if you look through a telescope you can sea two spikes sticking up from it. A great many of the people on her were drowned, and were buried in a cemetery not far from the beach. This cemetery was fenced in and painted last year, but it wants another coat of paint this year. The beach is a nice long one. It is pleasant to be on the rocks catching fish and getting seaweed. Dear Dot, the shells we get here are not valuable. Sometimes the mutton birds drive ashore a great number of fish like sardines, and they also go into pools. We have a boat harbour. It is nice to go out in it for a pull. My father has a punt, and my brother took my sister out for a row one afternoon. Dear Dot, I forgot to say that the Star of Erin was wrecked on a reef, but all the people were saved. On a calm day we can see a piece of her sticking out of the water. With love to Dot and the little folk, — Yours truly,
FLORENCE HENAGHAN. Waipapa Lighthouse.
[You are in a most interesting district, Florence, although it is so cold. It is a pity the sardines cannot be caught and tinned, like they are on the West Coast. I wonder if someone will take note of the fact mentioned by you that the Tararua Acre fence needs painting again. — DOT.] -Otago Witness, 14/12/1899.
Today, at the Tararua Acre, can be seen a board which tells the story of the disaster and also contains an epic poem about it, written by George Scott, the "Mornington Bard" of Dunedin. Read it at your peril...
DREADFUL WRECK OF THE SS TARARUA ON THE 29TH APRIL, 1881, WHEN ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SOULS PERISHED.
'Twas on an autumn April Morn,
And verging on bleak winter drear;
No friendly moon did show her horn
To show the treacherous rocks were near.
With six-score souls from Port she steam'd -
And long we watched her mirky breath -
And "hankies" waved, all happy seem'd -
They left our Pier to meet their death.
With ruddy cheeks and pulses high,
Now pleasures reigned her ample deck;
Their faces smiled with scarce a sigh -
None dreamt to face a yawning wreck.
As night drew on, all crept to rest,
Save the lone few who watch did keep.
The babe lay quiet at its mother's breast
As the good ship ploughed the mighty deep.
Some paced the deck to view the sea,
And smiled at every wave that broke,
Some dreamt of friends they longed to see,
When she struck upon the fatal rock.
Then children to their mothers clung -
Fond fathers ran in wild despair -
While moaning waves their requiem sung;
Their cries of pity rent the air.
When the women saw their captain's eyes,
Where terror never yet had shown;
And when they saw he heaved few sighs,
Their fears and doubts were nearly gone.
The children scream'd and mothers wept,
And burning tears filled many eyes,
As big waves broke and o'er her swept,
Engulphing some no more to rise.
In grief they watch yon groups on shore
With streaming eyes and lips grown white,
As corse after corse the billows bore
In the dark and lonely hours of night.
See yon poor mortals bathed in tears,
Grasping spars in rigging high;
Their human captain there appears,
Asking help from Him on high.
In deepening night the yawning swell
Fast drew around in awful storm;
And on the rocks she toss'd and fell,
The Tararua's batter'd form.
With all the tides that ebb and flow
We gaze on some, alas! no more;
As seething billows come and go,
They heave cold corses on the shore.
Yet corses ride on the dancing waves,
With faces deformed by salt-sea brine,
Now a hundred roll in their watery graves,
And sea-weeds in their hair entwine.
Speak kind to those who're making shrouds;
For lov'd one gone, bear them in mind -
That oftimes threatening lowering clouds,
Tho' dark, are often silver-lined.
Roll on, roll on! thou restless Sea;
Let thy proud waters sing their dirge;
Who sleeps their last sound sleep in thee
They'll hear not thy moaning tidal surge.
Up braid not harsh her crew in grief,
But rather to their failings lean;
Speak kindly of her gallant chief -
For deserts have their spots of green.
When midnight shades around them drew -
When dead and dying close did float -
A voice o'er the seething waters flew,
"Bring help, bring help! a boat, a boat!"
On yonder shore you'll find their graves;
Midst waving grass there many sleep.
They will not hear, far are the waves,
Deep sorrow while some mothers weep.
When o'er her decks the waters ran,
The captain thus addressed the few: -
"Bear up, I have done all I can -
Oh, God! what are we all to do!"
Mourn, Zealandia! mourn for thy sons;
Weep o'er thy daughters young and fair.
Cold are the bosoms of your dear ones -
Comfort the mourners now in despair.
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS
Not up to thE Standard. — An Otago paper has received a poem (on cardboard) concerning the wreck of the Tararua, with an accompanying photograph of the vessel in the act of breaking up (an imaginative scene, of course.) The poem is by George Scott. Our contemporary does not know who is responsible for the spelling — Mr Scott or his printers — but "Morn, Zealandia, morn for thy sons," is scarcely up to the recognised standard. -Marlborough Express, 9/6/1881.
The Tararua's boiler was visible for several decades, perched on the reef which took so many lives. It can no longer be seen.
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